Chkistopher john ma the w



(No Mode'lQ 5 v '6 C. J. MAYHEW.

TAP SOCKET FOR BARRBLS, 8Z6- NoQ 476,665. PatentedJune 7. 1892.

NITED Srnns CHRISTOPHER JOHN MAYHEW', OF \VALMER, ENGLAND.

TAP-SOCKET FOR BARRELS, 30C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,665, dated June 7, 1892.

Application filed January 2,1392. Serial No.416fl49. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER J OHN MAYHEW, residing at lValmer, in the county of Kent, England, have invented an Improved Tap-Socket for Barrels or Similar Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a permanent socket which may be fixed in barrels, casks, vats, tanks, or similar vessels into which it may be desired to insert a tap or connection, and it is designed to facilitate the insertion of anordinary tap without risk of waste or leakage, to reclose the orifice automatically when withdrawing the tap, and to afford a permanent cork-hole, and thus do away with the usually required new corks and new cant-pieces.

Figure l is a section through my improved tapping-socket closed before the tap is inserted. Fig. 2 is a section through my improved tapping-socket, the tap being inserted and pushed home, so as to open communication with the contents of the barrel. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the outer bush of my socket. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the inner tube of my socket.

The tapA used with my socket is the ordinary tap with taper perforated shank as at present used.

My socket consists of abush B, with an end flange b, which is fitted into the cork-hole of the cask and secured there permanently by woodscrews 0 or rivets through the flange. At the inner end of the bush is a trough-recess D, carrying a ring (Z, of india-rubber or other suitable material. Within this bush Iinsert a tube E, closed at the inner end and terminating at the outer open end with a circular trough-recess of larger diameter, into which recess is placed a packing-ring f, of india-rubber or suitable material, backed by sectional segments of a metal ring G, provided with short round-headed studs g, passing through and projecting slightly beyond the exterior surface of thelarge end of the tube. The tube has, also, perforations H about midway of its length, communicating with the interior of the tube. This tube is forced through the oylindrical orifice of the indiarubber or other packing-ring (Z of the bush-socket B, so that a water-tight joint is made between them. \Vhen now the tube E is in its outermost position in the bush 13, as it would be when dolivered without a tap, as shown in Fig. 1, the perforations through the tube are covered by or are on the outer side of the water-tight packing-ring (Z of the bush or socket B and the cask is closed or corked. In this position, also, the projecting ends of the studs g, pressing against the ring elastic packingfof the inner tube E, are resting in a half-round recess K, turned in the inner face of the surrounding bush or socket B, and there is no pressure upon the said packing.

To tap the cask, an ordinary taper tap A may be inserted into the ring-packing f of the inner tube E and then pressure or force be applied to drive the tap and tube home. This force serves to drive the inner tube Efarther into the bush or socket B, forcing the studs g as they come out of the recessKin the bush into the ring elastic packing f, thus clamping the tap with a thorough water-tight joint before bringing the perforations II of the inner tube beyond the ring-joint d of the bush into the liquid within the cask, and thus opening communication with the tap. Upon attempting to withdraw the tap the tube E will first draw outward in the bush B, thus closing communication with the interior of the cask until the joint-compressing studs ghave fallen into the before-mentioned recess K, when, the pressure on the tap-joint being relieved, the tap will leave the tube and the cask is reclosed or recorked.

The inner tube E can easily be taken out of the bush or socket B by the brewer, thus giving him a clear way through the bush into the cask, which is of great importance.

It is obvious that in my device I avoid the use of springs, which have been found of great detriment to such an appliance.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a tap-socket, the inner sliding tube closed at its inner end, provided with a rubber joint for the tap and segmental plates behind the said rubber, and studs projecting beyond the periphery of the tube, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tap-socket, the inner sliding tube provided with a rubber joint for the tap and segmental plates behind the said rubber, and

studs projecting beyond the periphery of the tube, substantially as described.

3. In a tap-socket, the inner sliding tube provided with a rubber joint for the tap and segmental plates behind said rubber, studs projecting beyond the periphery of said tube, the external bush provided with a rubber joint on its inner end for the inner sliding tube, and a circular groove within its upper end, into which the joint-studs of the inner tube engage, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a tap-socket, the inner perforated sliding tube provided with a rubber joint forthe tap and segmental plates behind said rubber,

CHRISTOPHER JOHN MAYHE W.

Witnesses:

J OHN O. FELL, CHARLES H. CARTER. 

